WASHINGTON — Donald Trump began his presidency Friday with the same impatient determination to smash the nation's political order that he brought to his campaign.

He launched a blistering inaugural attack on the "establishment." He painted a dire picture of American life. And he pledged a populist revolution to fix it — one built around the principle of "America first."

Trump spoke of "mothers and children trapped in poverty ... rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation" and an education system that leaves students "deprived of knowledge." He blamed all this on an indifferent and prospering elite and vowed to transform Washington.

"This American carnage stops right here, and stops right now," he declared.

It was more manifesto than inaugural address — an outsider's warning to fat cats and power brokers that an angry populace has his back, and he can bend it to his will.

"What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people," Trump said, anointing himself the people's champion. "The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer."

The pageantry was familiar and reassuring, even if the message and messenger were dramatically unlike any in the annals of American history. Three former presidents attended the ceremony, along with a number of rivals the New York real estate mogul felled along the way, in a bitter general election and before that, a hard-fought GOP primary.

Hundreds of thousands of cheering backers, and many thousand jeering and dismayed opponents, witnessed the oath of office, and Trump's blunt warnings and grand pledges.

"America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs, we will bring back our borders, we will bring back our wealth, and we will bring back our dreams," he said.

The inaugural address hit hard on the themes Trump struck as a candidate: populist economics and reorienting the political culture to wrest power from its traditional stewards. Much of his agenda clashes with GOP dogma — on trade, fiscal policy, taxes and a litany of issues. But it's Trump's party now.

"It's an exciting day, because it's full of unknowns — but certainly more opportunity than we thought we'd have under a [Hillary] Clinton presidency," said Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the deputy Senate majority leader.

Like presidents before him, Trump trumpeted the value of solidarity and unity. A mandate is only as strong as the pressure a president can muster against an obstreperous opposition, after all.

But he railed against nameless politicians "who are all talk and no action." And he unleashed venom at an anonymous, ominous "establishment" — some of its most prominent denizens arrayed around him on the dais.

"The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. ... Their triumphs have not been your triumphs," he said.

Congress is controlled by Republicans, but if any trembled at Trump's warning shots, they were keeping it to themselves Friday afternoon.

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Friday. (Matt Rourke/The Associated Press)

President-elect Donald J. Trump and first lady-elect Melania Trump depart St. John's Church on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images)

President-elect Donald Trump waits to stop out onto the portico for his Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

(Patrick Semansky/AP)

With former President Barack Obama seated nearby, the new president leveled a stern critique of foreign and domestic policy.

"We've defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own," he said. "The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world. But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future."

The rallying cries, one after the next, drew lusty cheers in the crowd. The language was powerful, as he spoke of foreign companies ravaging American industry, "stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs."

"From this day forward, it's going to be only America first," Trump pledged. "Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families."

Every living president attended the ceremony, other than the aging George Bush, who was in a Houston hospital. Bill and Hillary Clinton got big cheers when they took their seats, as did George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush. The reception for Jimmy and Roslyn Carter was tepid.

Oldest ever

At 70, he's the oldest president to take office, and the first to move into the White House and starts his first government job at the same time — a breathtaking ascent.

More than 3,000 National Guard troops were deployed across downtown Washington, along with legions of police and Secret Service, keeping a watchful eye over the peaceful transition of power. Protesters packed subway cars elbow to elbow with Trump supporters, the former carrying vulgar and insulting signs, the latter sporting red "Make America Great Again" caps.

Cheers erupted as Trump was announced and strode out of the Capitol. He waved and pumped his fist. A light rain that settled over the city a few hours earlier had given way to high clouds. The ceremony remained dry — until the very moment Trump, freshly sworn in, flashed a thumbs up. The drops continued throughout the speech.

Later, pastor Franklin Graham noted that in the Bible, rain is a sign of blessing.

A woman near the press section, just below Trump, shouted "He's a homophobe! Donald Trump is a homophobe!" A police officer led her away by the elbow. Clashes later along the parade route would underscore the pushback Trump faces.

More than 60 House Democrats, including at least three from Texas, boycotted the event. Some call Trump too bigoted and divisive to validate with their presence. Others question his legitimacy, citing the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that by leaking hacked Democratic emails, Russia meddled in the election in order to boost his chances.

"That's never a good start," Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Dallas Republican who chairs the Financial Services Committee, said of the boycott.

But he said, "Donald Trump has tapped into something that crossed party lines. The whole country ought to be hopeful." And he's been impressed at Trump's preparations. "The president has put together the most impressive Cabinet since Ronald Reagan — certainly the most conservative."

The speech, 1,433 words, clocked in at just 16 minutes — on the short side, but not a record. Trump, often an extemporaneous speaker, stuck closely to the prepared remarks.

While other presidents have lamented poverty and joblessness on taking office, Trump pointed a rhetorical finger at Washington itself, depicting a ruling class that preys on the masses.

Much like his convention speech, it's a portrait of a dark, dead America, fueled by the promise of revenge and economic fantasy.

Pointing a spotlight on problems real and exaggerated, he vowed that Trump's Washington will not avert its eyes.

"We are one nation — and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success," he said, in a poetic turn. "We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny."

From the farther reaches of the crowd spread along the National Mall, occasional chants of "USA! USA!" and "Trump! Trump! Trump!" erupted — a sure sign of efforts to drown out protesters.

Lawmakers in both parties were listening for olive branches.

"He will do more to heal the country, even with all the uprisings today. When African-Americans see how he gets us jobs, improves inner cities, it's going to be a good term," predicted Rep. Louie Gohmert, a tea partier from Tyler.

Undercurrents of tension ran through the day. The intensity of Trump's supporters — and the disdain they show for his opponents — was on sharp display when Sen. Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic minority, took a turn at the lectern.

He spoke of a nation fractured in its politics, a message that actually held echoes of the one Trump would deliver moments later.

"We live in a challenging and tumultuous time, a quickly evolving, ever more interconnected world, a rapidly changing economy that benefits too few, while leaving too many behind, a fractured media, a politics frequently consumed by rancor," Schumer said. "In such times, faith in our government, our institutions and even our country can erode."

Boos and chants erupted among Trump lovers.

Bruce Fogerty, a Dallas resident who works as a consultant for Trammel Crow and the Earth Day Texas environmental conference, left the ceremony with mixed emotions.

"People are ready for change. We saw that eight years ago. This is a different kind of change," he said.

But he said, "I hope that with the promises of greatness there is some humility." With Trump, "There's room for growth."